Fluid-expansion press.



L. G. TURLEY. FLUID EXPANSION PRESS. APPLIOATION FILED 0011.121, 190s.

961,046. Patented June '7, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

L. C. TURLEY. FLUID EXPANSION PRESS. APPLICATION FILED 00T. 21, 1908.l

2% 0 6 m www @EN ma 1, ma f3 DM .mn e

ATTORNEYS ANDREW B. GRAHAM Co. PuoTo-LYNBGRAPNERS, wAsmNGTon, DA:v

UNITED STATES FLUID-EXPANSION PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led October 21, 1908.

Patented J une 7, 1910.

Serial No. 458,778.

y To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LESLIE C. TURLEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Portsmouth, in the county of Scioto and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Fluid-Expansion Press, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to presses, such, for instance, as are employed in making brick, my more particular purpose being to render the action of the press as nearly automatic as practicable.

Among the special objects sought to be accomplished by my invention are the following: 1. To shift the die cap into and out of position relatively to the die, by merely turning an expansive medium on and off, for the purpose of actuating the movable elements of the press, so that a single application of the expansive medium is sufcient to cover the die and to squeeze within the same the article to be pressed, and that the release of the expansive medium from the press not only restores the die to normal condition, but also removes its cap. 2. To enable the release of the expansive medium to remove the cap by a plurality of motions, first raising the cap clear of the die and then shifting the cap in a lateral direction, the cap performing these movements inversely whenever the expansive medium is turned on. 3. To provide various details of construction for carrying out the objects above stated and for generally improving the eiciency of the press.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters ofreference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation `of the press complete, this view showing the die cap as occupying its normal position-that is, removed from the die and ready to be moved back over the same as soon as the expansive medium enters the press; Fig. 2 is a substantially central vertical section, otherwise like Fig. 1, but showing the internal construction of the press, and particularly the die, the plunger, the movable piston and the movable cylinder, for receiving the expansive medium; this view further showing the mechanism whereby the application of pressure within the cylinder causes the die cap to be shifted to its abnormal position over the die; Fig. 3 is a section like Fig. 2, but showing the position assumed by the movable parts when the expansive medium enters the cylinder; and Fig. t is a side elevation of the press complete, showing it as viewed from a point at the right of Fig. 1, parts being omitted.

Frame members 5, 6 are mounted upon wheels 7, S, the latter being used for the purpose of rendering the press portable. A handle 9, pivotally connected with a cross rod 10, is used in moving the press from one point to another. The die is shown at 11 and is reinforced by a die case 12. This die case is provided with lugs 13 integral with it and is secured upon the frame-work by aid of bolts 14. Mounted upon the frame members are ways 15 and slidably engaging the latter is a plunger 16. Mounted upon the upper end of the plunger is a follow block 17, the latter being movable relatively to the die 11 and practically forming the bottom of the same.

A die cap 18 is provided for the purpose of closing the tcp of the die, as will be understood from Fig. 3. This die cap is mounted rigidly upon side bars 19 by aid of a cross bar 20. The plunger 1G is provided at its bottom with a toe 21. A cross beam 22 is bolted rigidly upon the frame members and extends practically the full width of the machine. Mounted centrally upon this cross beam is a sleeve 23, the upper end of this sleeve being encircled by a dust cap 24. A cylindrical rod 25 extends through the sleeve 23 and through the dust cap 24, the upper end of this cylindrical rod being provided with a toe 26.

At 27 is a large piston for receiving the pressure of the air, steam or other expansive medium employed for operating the parts. The piston 27 is provided with a passage 28 and normally closinv this passage 1s a safety valve 29 to be opened only by excessive pressure of the expansive medium. The piston 27 is also provided with a packing 30.

At 31 is a pipe connected with the piston 27 and communicating with a passage 32 through the latter for the purpose of supplying the expansive medium.

A cylinder is shown at 33 and is used for temporarily holding the air or steam supplied by the pipe 31. This cylinder is provided at its bottom with a bearing 33a, this bearing resting upon a shaft 34 extending entirely through the frame members. A yoke 35 is provided with a ball head 36 which is sunken into the shaft 34, so as to give the yoke 35 and the shaft 34 a slight rocking play relatively to each other. Springs 37, 38 are connected with the yoke and tend to press it constantly upward. These springs are supported by a plate 39, the latter engaging an annular cap 40 which rests directly upon the piston 27 Connected rigidly with the lower portion of the shaft 34 is a plate 41 of arcuate conformity (see Fig. 2), and journaled to this plate is a link 42 having substantially the form of a fork. This link rests upon a pin 42u carried by a lever 43. A spiral spring 44 presses upon the opposite end of this lever and extending through the spiral spring is a pin 45. This pin extends through a cross beam 46 whereby it is supported, and serves as a limiting stop for the lever 43. The purpose of the spring 44 is to prevent undue rigidity in the lever 43. It may happen that owing to slight differences of adjustment of various parts, and also to wear and tear of such parts, the shaft 34 in one instance turns a little farther than in another when the cylinder 33 descends. In such cases the pressure of the link 42 upon the adjacent end of the lever 43 is always maintained at approximately what it should be. This is owing to the action of the spring 44. This spring is slightly compressed by the movement of the lever 43 if any such compression be necessary in order to prevent the link 42 from being subjected to undue strain as the cylinder 33 descends. The cross beam 46 is rigid, being mounted -directly upon the frame members 5 and 6.

A chain 48 is provided with a turnbuckle 47 and is partially wound upon a differential winch 49. Another chain 50 engages this winch and is connected with the plunger 16. A treadle 47a is connected with the turnbuckle 47 and chain 48, for the purpose of enabling the operator to actuate the winch 49 and thereby raise the follow block 17 to facilitate emptying the die.

Mounted upon the frame members 5, 6 are cushions 51 serving as limiting stops for the side bars 19. Spring buffers 52 are also mounted upon opposite sides of the framework and are used for absorbing any shock which might otherwise be produced by movements of the side bars. The frame members 5, 6 are provided with vertically disposed slots 53 through which the ends of the shaft 34 extend. These ends are slightly flattened and are connected directly with the side bars 19.

Mounted upon the frame members 5, 6 are boxes 54 and extending through the same are rods 55 which are normally forced to the left according to Fig. 1, by springs contained wit-hin the boxes. A cross bar 56 connects the rods 55 together. Mounted centrally upon the cross bar 56 is a dolly 57.

A roller 58 is mounted upon the plate 39 and another roller 59 is mounted upon the cross bar 22. These rollers are in alinement with each other and so arranged that the dolly 57, which has generally the form of a blade, may be thrust between them in such manner as to hold them apart, as will be understood from Fig. 4.

The purpose of the cross bar 56 is to move the dolly 57 into and out of position between the rollers 58, 59, the movements of the cross bar 56 being controlled by movements of the side bars 19, as will be understood from Fig. 1. At 60 (Fig. 3) is a brick practically finished by the machine and ready to be ejected therefrom. Suspension rods 61 extend loosely through the beam 22 and normally support the weight of the piston 27.

The operation of my device is as follows: The movable members normally occupy the positions indicated in Fig. 2. The plunger 16 and follow block 17 occupy their lowermost positions, being suspended from the beam 22. The cylinder 33 now occupies its uppermost position, and the springs 37, 38 are exerting their minimum degree of tension. The side bars 19 no-w lean to the left, according to Figs. 1 and 2, and the die cap 18 is consequently removed from the die. The dolly 57 is between the rollers 58, 59. The operator now prepares a charge to be pressed and places it within the die 11. He next turns on the expansive medium through the pipe 31 and passage 32.

As soonas a portion of the expansive medium enters the cylinder 33 it of course presses equally in all directions, and has more or less tendency to move the piston 27 upward. Since, however, the dolly 57 is between the rollers 58, 59, the piston 27 does not move for a moment, the result being that the cylinder- 33 starts moving downward. The pressure of the link 42 (see Fig. 2), being exerted tangentially in relation to the shaft 34, turns this shaft from its posi tion indicated in Fig. 2 to that indicated in Fig. 3. This slight rotary movement of the shaft 34 causes the side bars 19 to straighten up so'that the die cap 18 is moved directly over the die. The side bars 19 being thus shifted strike against the spring buffers 52 and also against the rods 55, pushing the same to the right according to Fig. 1, the side bars 19 finally lodging against the cushions 51, and, of course, holdin the spring buffers under tension. In doing this the cross bar 56 is moved into its extreme position to the right, according to Figs. 1 and 2, so that the dolly 57 is partially withdrawn from between the rollers 58, 59.

The limit of downward movement by the cylinder 33 is reached when the die cap 18 settles firmly upon the die 11. The weight of the cylinder 33 and all parts immediately associated therewith now hangs upon the side bars 19. The expansive medium continues to flow into the cylinder 38, and the dolly 57 being moved back a little, as just described, the piston 27 now begins to move upwardly. In doing this the piston 27 car ries with it the suspension rods 61 which have heretofore been its sole support, so that the piston 27 now rests entirely upon the expansive medium, the downward pressure of the latterl (exerted through the medium of the cylinder 33) being ultimately supported by the die cap 18. The upward movement of the piston 27 causes the plunger 16 and follow block 17 to rise, thereby subjecting the charge of material to intense pressure intermediate the follow block 17 and the die cap 18, so as to form the brick 60, as indicated in Fig. 3. This being done, the operator cuts olf the supply of the expansive medium and vents the pipe 31.

The movements above described are now repeated in reverse order; that is to say, as the expansive medium makes its escape from the cylinder 83, the piston 26 descends, and the springs 37, 38 rst raise the cylinder 33. This movement taken in connection with the tangential pressure exerted by the link 4:2 causes the side bars 19 to rise slightly, thereby lifting the die cap 18 vertically from the die 11. The same movement of the cylinder 33, taken in connection with a relaxation of the tangential pressure of the link 4:2, and also in connection with the pressure exerted by the spring buffers against the side bars 19, causes the side bars to rock in a contraclockwise direction, according to Fig. 2, thereby moving the die cap 18 in a lateral direction from the die and leaving the latter uncovered. This being done,the rods 55 resume their normal positions, as indicated in Fig. 1, and consequently the cross bar 56 moves the dolly 57 intermediate the rollers 58, 59.

In order to remove the brick 60, or analogous piece of stock, the operator depresses the treadle 47a so as to raise the follow block 17. I do not limit myself, however, to this particular mechanism for emptying the die, as the result in question may be accomplished in various ways without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination of a die, a die cap for engaging and disengaging said die, side bars connected with said die cap for moving the same relatively to said die, a shaft connected with said side bars, mechanism connected with said shaft for the purpose of causing the latter to turn slightly when said shaft is displaced bodily from its normal position, pressure-0perated mechanism connected with said shaft and adapted to displace the same bodily from said normal position, and mechanism provided with a membei' extending into said die and controllable by pressure for forcing said member against a charge contained within said die and engaging said die cap.

2. The combination of a die, a die cap for engaging and disengaging said die, side bars connected with said die cap for moving the same relatively to said die, a shaft connected with said side bars, mechanism connected with said shaft for the purpose of causing the latter to turn slightly when displaced bodily from its normal position, a cylinder provided with a bearing which engages said shaft for the purpose of displacing said shaft and of turning the same upon its own axis, a piston mounted within said cylinder, and mechanism connected with sai cylinder and provided with a member extending into said die, said mechanism being controllable by pressure of said piston for forcing said member against a charge contained within said die and engaging said die cap.

8. The combination of a die, a die cap for closing the same, side bars for supporting said die cap, spring buffers for automatically throwing said side bars into a predetermined normal position in order to remove said die cap from proximity to said die, a piston and cylinder co-acting with said die and said die cap for squeezing a charge within said die, springs connected with said piston and with said cylinder for the purpose of normally forcing the same toward each other, means for admitting a fluid intermediate said piston and said cylinder so as to stretch said springs, and mechanism controllable by the pressure of a medium within said cylinder for shifting said side bars to abnormal position in order to cause said die cap to cover said die.

4. In a press, the combination of a framework, a die, a follow block movable relatively to the same, a cap for closing said die, a pair of members movable relatively to each other and fitted loosely together, said members being adapted to move apart by the pressure of a flowing medium between them, one of said members being connected with said follow block, a shaft movable relatively to said framework and connected to the other member, said shaftbeing provided with a portion serving as a crank, and means controllable by movements of said shaft for actuating said cap relatively to said die.

5. The combination of a framework, a die, a die cap for engaging and disengaging said die, a follow block movable relatively to said die, a piston connected with said follow block for actuating the same, a cylinder fitting said piston for the purpose of directing against the same a flowing medium under pressure, in order to actuate said follow block, a shaft operatively connected with said cylinder, said shaft being provided with a crank portion whereby said shaft may be turned by pressure of said cylinder, and mechanism connected with said shaft and with said die cap for moving said die cap relatively to said die.

6. In a press, the combination of a die7 mechanism including a piston and movable relatively to said die for the purpose of compressing materials Within the latter, a cylinder connected with said piston for directing thereagainst the pressure of a flowing medium, a tool for temporarily preventing said piston from prematurely moving under the pressure of said ovving medium, mechanism connected With said cylinder and actuated by movements thereof for closing and opening said die, and means controllable by movements of said last-mentioned mechanism for withdrawingsaid tool, thereby freeing said piston.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in the presence of two subscrbin Witnesses.

LESLIE CHARLES TURLEY. lVitnesses:

CARRIE GERLACH,

R. B. TYNES. 

